So i was just looking around and i saw on an athiest blog, 10 Questions to ask a Christian. here they are and what they wrote then i will answer them for myself.
1. Why does god hate amputees? - There has never been a case of a single amputee growing back an arm or a leg yet god (supposedly) sees fit to regularly cure cancer sufferers and the blind.
2. Biblical Law - In Matthew 5:17-18 it states that Jesus wants Christians to follow the old testament word for word. Why don't they? And why do they actively disregard the parts of the old testament which they don't agree with or which are socially unacceptable these day, Like child slavery?
3. Eye of a needle - If Jesus said it's difficult, Even impossible, For a rich man to get in to the kingdom of heaven why do so many rich people believe in Jesus? why is it the goal of nearly every single christian to become rich? And why do TV evangelists always want your money?
4. Did god create Cancer and aids - Did he? If so why? And why do good Christians also get them? Or was it a mistake? And if it was, Why not do something about it now?
5. Bible Revisions - The bible read by Christians of today differs by many chapters and thousand of paragraphs from the original. Which one is the word of god and why does man edit it?
6. Second Commandment - If the 2Nd Commandment is "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image" why do Christians wear crosses, Have statues and make films with Jesus' graven image on them?
7. Jesus Loves? - If Jesus loves why did he say "I will kill her children. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds." in Revelation 2:23. Is Jesus really a child killer?
8. Allegory - The bible states that the Earth is between 6,000 and 8,000 years old, that it was created in 7 days, and that Man is made of dirt and Woman a piece of Man. The modern church says this is allegory. Where does it say in the bible that it is allegory?
9. Witch trials, Inquisitions and crusades - Historians estimate the total number of people executed in the name of Jesus is as high as 15 million (mostly Jews, "witches" and pagans). How does it feel knowing that Jesus is responsible for 3 times as many deaths as Hitler?
10. The only real SIN. - In Mark 3:29 it says "but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin". Is it true that paedophiles and child killers can be forgiven and get in to heaven but disbelievers can't?
Now those are some hard questions, but here are what my answers would be...
1) God did not create these disease and even though he could, in his power, heal an amputee the diseases of cancer and such are designed as a curable disease. Yet being an amputee is not curable as in having the same arm or leg you had. Now God does not hate amputees, he loves everyone dearly. But in the situation that they are in. God in his ultimate wisdom does not see it fit to miraculously regrow there appendage.
2) Now first, i do not agree with those who do not agree with parts of the Bible. The whole Bible is God's word and every word should be regarded as being said directly by God. But we as humans are not perfect. God is saying that we should try our best to be perfect and to do obey the whole old testament, but as humans we cannot obey it word for word all the time.
3) Now what God is saying in this verse (i think) is that it is very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God because being rich and having all that money they are most likely not giving much to God (by tithing to the church) and they are most likely serving money. Respecting and seeking money. Now for the evangelist who ask for your money, i do not agree with them. Our Salvation through Jesus Christ is free and i think we should not ask for money to "Assist you conversion." Now there are rich people who enter the kingdom of God but most likely those who are Saved and are rich will be generously giving to God and not saving all fr themselves. ANd for the Christians who are seeking more than what they have, it is not bad to try and gain more money, it is bad when they make that a priority over God.
4) God did not create cancer and aids and such. It came about by sin. The result of The Fall Of Man was sin in the world which brought pain and suffering. Cancer and Aids aswell. God did not make them and though he created them he will not totally cure them because of our sin. They are a result of our Sin and as long as our sin is present Pain and Suffering will also be present. Yes Christians also get these disease.
5) The Bible does have things changed in translation, but each copy and translation of the Bible have been made close together so the chance of large meaning and word changes is very rare.
6) If you continue reading the 4th verse it says of anything in the heavens above (sky) or earth beneath. And in verse 5, "you shall not serve them..." God is saying that you should not make a carved image of anything on earth because by wearing it and such you are in a sense worshiping it. and God is against that. But a Cross is a holy image of God's death and by wearing it we are worshiping God through his death.
7) Jesus is a loving God, he loves everyone. Yet he is a Just God and cannot let sin go unpunished. Now in this text he is talking about Jezebel who it says," is seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idol." Now as i said before God is against idol. Jezebel is destroying a church of God. She is destroying God's bride! Now because God is just he cannot let this go unpunished. God is not a child killer. He says in Matther, "but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”"
(Matthew 19:14 ESV)
8) From my understanding of the word Allegory i do not believe it is allegory. It is what happened, nothing more and nothing less.
9) These are deaths "in the name of Jesus Christ" but not by Jesus. God has not killed them and i dont think he is responsible for there deaths. Those people where martyred for there belief, this is not because of God. God is not responsible. Those people who were the killers had a choice and because the other believed in God they chose to kill them. i do not think it is directly God's fault.
10) in short, Yes. In longer form. Anyone is not to bad or far away from God that they do not have a chance to be saved (apart from those who teach lies and blasphemy against God). Those people can repent and if they turn from their sins a believe they will be saved. God can change any heart. God changed Pharoah's hard heart many times, he can do it for anyone.
If you have any thoughts on this PLEASE PLEASE comment. Thanks!
Word of the day: No.
First, I would suggest reordering the post so that questions and answers are next to each other. :>)
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple that I felt the urge to clarify/respond to.
2)I think the question was referring to old testament laws like sacrificing the lambs. These ten commandments were commandments to the Jewish people until the coming of Messiah. As "Gentiles" we are not obligated to follow these laws but to follow Christ. However, Christ does order us to "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. (first four Commandments)
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (last six Commandments)" This is why we still follow the Ten Commandments today.
3) This is out of context. If you just read, "24 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" you are left without hope. Read onward. "When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Our goal really shouldn't be to become rich, it is a sad misinterpretation... We are called to follow God, even if it means poverty. That is not to say that God will give the opportunity for some to get rich. TV Evangelists... not a big fan... They are trying to get more money to keep spreading the Gospel (we hope).
4) This is a great response that I found online, "There is evidence that cancer and heart disease are primarily caused by stress.
STD's, in the majority, can be traced back to having sex with animals.
Most food poisoning could be avoided by following Biblical food usage, storage and consumption practices.
In my opinion disease was created by God and is spread through sin, but, not necessarily to a sinner.
After all, it is not what happens to you that matters it is how you choose to think and act that is important."
5) The difference throughout the ages is ridiculously close to the Bible's we use today. Questioner you are misinformed.
6) We worship anything we admire... but it becomes idolatry when it becomes more important than God.
7) It could be a symbol, it could not... who knows except God?
9) God is sovereign, he predestined our actions... We cannot always comprehend is will but other than that Sim nailed this.
10) Yup. Disbelief is the only unforgivable sin.
Also, it's great to see you taking on the tough questions Bro! Keep working through them. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the clarifications and such Stevie! Very helpful! Yes I did comprehend doin that layout but I was to lazy. :P
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